17 plans for A96 Aberdeen to Inverness revealed

17 different options for the A96 dualling are on display. Picture: TSPL

ALISTAIR MUNRO

MULTI-million pound plans to dual the entire length of the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road and bypass the seaside town of Nairn have been unveiled to the public today.

The Scottish Government has revealed 17 route options in their blueprint for the long-awaited project.

The public consultation on the massive £3 billion dualling programme – due for completion by 2030 – will run until 31 January next year.

The options include nine possible routes for the Nairn bypass.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said decisions on preferred routes would be made next year.

He added that the strategic engineering assessment for the 99-mile route would be considered before a decision was made on which section to build first.

Mr Brown said: “The scale of the project in front of us is evidence from this exhibition. The dualling of the A96 and the A9 are the largest transport projects in Scotland, at around £3 billion apiece.”

The public exhibition opens in the Golf View Hotel in Nairn today. It then moves to Inverness Town House tomorrow, and the Ramnee Hotel in Forres on Friday.

It will then be taken to Keith, Elgin, Huntly, Dycy and Inverurie before the end of the month.